ES2561593T3 - System and procedure for programming video recorders - Google Patents

Abstract

Video recorder programming procedure (5, 7, 9) comprising the following steps: selecting, by a video recorder editor-user, a video content to be recorded; include an identification of said video content in a theme that groups different content; choose the users subscribed to said topic; automatically transmitting programming instructions for the recording of said video content to the video recorders (5, 7, 9) of the users subscribed to said topic, thus programming the video recorders of said subscribed users without any intervention on their part; deleting video contents recorded by said video recorder (5, 7, 9); characterized in that said step of deleting recorded video content comprises the steps of: defining, by a user, rules for choosing video content to be automatically deleted from his recorder, so as to allow deletion of recorded video content video consulted less frequently and/or that have the worst rating of the users subscribed to said topic; verifying said rules by a video recorder programming server (1); and sending delete recording commands to said user's video recorder when one of said rules is satisfied.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

System and procedure for programming video recorders.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a remote programming procedure for video recorders, as well as to a server adapted for this procedure.

State of the art

There are numerous devices for recording television broadcasts in order to watch them at a chosen time. Video tape recorders are gradually replaced by optical or hard disk recorders. Other recording media continue to be developed, including systems that allow recording on a remote medium.

The user who wishes to record a broadcast must enter an order in advance in order to tell the video recorder to start and interrupt the recording of the selected chain at the desired time. This operation is called programming. Different procedures and devices have been developed and continue to be developed to make this operation as easy as possible.

However, the number of television networks available to viewers tends to increase rapidly, so that it becomes increasingly difficult to know on which channel which broadcast is broadcast and at what time. The available channels also depend on the cable television operators and the groups of channels to which each viewer subscribes. Television magazines printed on paper, although they become increasingly thick, are no longer sufficient to present the diversity of the available offer.

In order to solve this problem, electronic program guides EPG ("electronic program guide") are also known. Electronic programming guides allow viewing broadcasts broadcast by several channels on one or several web pages accessible from an Internet browser or directly on television several weeks in advance. Search and classification tools facilitate navigation and allow a viewer to find more quickly the emissions that may interest you.

Patent application WO 0161997 describes a system that allows a programmable video recorder to be remotely programmed from any web browser. The viewer who wishes to schedule a broadcast selects it from his browser from an electronic schedule. The server that displays this electronic EPG programming encodes the programming instructions with an identification of the decoder encapsulated in the video signal broadcast to all viewers. A decoder associated with the television receiver in the viewer's home receives these instructions, detects that they are intended for himself, and executes these instructions. A similar solution is also described in WO 0140887.

In order to further facilitate emission scheduling, application WO 0147273 proposes an automatic emission recommendation system based on correlations between user profiles and emission characteristics. The viewer is thus automatically informed of the broadcasts that may interest him. However, it is difficult to automatically and reliably determine the viewers' preferences, especially when the choice of broadcast is important.

WO 2004032511 describes a programming server that allows a user to remotely program his digital video recorder, for example from a computer connected to the Internet. A user can connect to the server via the Internet to define their choices of broadcast schedules and then transfer them to their video recorder. However, the system needs the user to connect to the server beforehand, for example with the help of a PC connected to the Internet, in order to select the broadcasts or broadcast categories that he wishes to record. On the other hand, a user who discovers an interesting broadcast does not have any possibility to schedule the recording of this broadcast on recorders that do not belong to him, or even to easily recommend this broadcast to friends or acquaintances.

Document US 20050149987 describes a system that allows a community of viewers to share information related to programs. You can share a selection of links to television programs through websites, blogs or emails, and upload to a video recorder to start programming. This procedure allows the transmission of interesting programs to friends or online.

In this document, digital video recorders can be conveniently programmed with the help of user selectable links. These links may have different formats, for example a complete description of the program such as the one contained in an electronic programming guide, or a format similar to a URL (“Universal Resource Locator”) used to identify a location on the Internet.

A user of this system can transmit a programming link to other users, for example through

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email or depositing it in a chat space. In the latter case, a chat space moderator who wishes to recommend a television program to be recorded must first send an email to all members of this space, asking them to connect to the chat and select in the same the link of the television program to be recorded. The recorders are only programmed automatically if the users connect and select the recommended link. On the other hand, no programming update is made if the user does not read their emails and if they do not connect to the chat server. The programming of new broadcasts proposed in an email or a chat forum therefore requires in all cases a user intervention.

Therefore, this solution does not allow you to remotely program the recorder of an absent user, or of a user who forgets or refuses to connect to the chat server. On the other hand, this procedure is too complex for many people who do not know how to connect to a chat server, or who do not have an active email address.

The website
http://web.archive.Org/web/20070714195654/-http://www3.tivo.com/tivo-tco/mix/index.do, accessed 01/28/2008, describes a procedure that allows a “Guru” manually select lists of proposed emissions to users. A user who wants to follow the recommendations of a guru should view the series of lists proposed by different gurus, then manually subscribe to a list of recommendations among the different proposed lists. The document does not provide any indication as to how the emission identifications in the selected lists are transmitted to the users'recorders; It is unknown, for example, if an intervention is required by the user during this transfer. On the other hand, the described procedure does not allow any video recorder user to program their friends'recorders; Only a limited number of gurus, apparently specialists or celebrities selected by the manufacturer, can propose program lists. Instead, these lists are accessible to all users and even gurus do not have the possibility to restrict access rights to their list.

Other procedures and systems for programming digital video recorders are also described in WO 0147249, US 20050120370, WO 03098932 and WO 2006051492.

On the other hand, “social web” type applications are known that allow Internet users to share photographs, for example in
www.flickr.com, videos, for example in
www.youtube.com, or other types of documents. YouTube allows, for example, any Internet user to make any video content available to the public or other Internet users. However, this solution requires that the Internet user who wishes to make a video document available to other users have a copy of this document, which is not the case before the first broadcast of this video. On the other hand, the storage and provision of copies of video content pose copyright problems that limit the possibilities of dissemination.

Brief summary of the invention

An objective of the present invention is to propose an improved video recording programming system and method with respect to prior art procedures.

According to the invention, these objectives are achieved by means of the procedure defined in claim 1.

The steps of the procedure defined in claim 1 can be executed in the order indicated or in another order.

The selection of the content can be done in an electronic programming guide, or by manually or automatically entering a broadcast indication and / or a start date and end time and a broadcast time.

This solution presents in particular the advantage over the prior art of allowing any user-editor to automatically program the video recorders of other users subscribed to the same subject. Conversely, a user can program their recorder to receive all the video content associated with a topic that interests them, simply by subscribing to this topic and relying on the editor's selections. Any user can also create new themes, include broadcasts on this topic, invite other users to subscribe to it, and / or define the rights of other users to view this topic, to view the content of this topic, to subscribe to it. or to modify its content.

A video recorder means any device or system that can permanently memorize a video signal on a medium of any type, including a tape recorder, hard disk, optical disk, a computer, a PDA or a mobile phone , for example.

When subscribing to a topic, a user thus delegates the right to program his video recorder to the administrator or to the different administrators of the topic. This right can possibly be delegated to any other user, without being limited to a class of users or private gurus. Conversely, a user-editor can program the video recorders of any other user subscribed to a topic managed or edited by this user-editor.

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When a user subscribes to a topic (after an action on their part or an invitation), their video recorder is preferably programmed completely automatically and without any intervention on their part, including when new broadcasts are added to the topic. In a variant, the programming of at least certain emissions, or of all emissions, or the resolution of conflicts, requires or allows user intervention to confirm or cancel a schedule.

This solution thus combines the advantages of a video recorder programming system from the web with the features of a “social web” type application allowing Internet users to share and define rights over selections of video content to be recorded. . Generally it allows to avoid copyright problems, since the video contents are stored by the users themselves and for their own use; Only programming instructions are published.

The method of the invention offers the advantage of allowing users to form communities around a subject or set of broadcasts, and share selections of video content on a topic with the public or with closed user groups, for example affiliated users. or related in a social network system. Users thus generally rely more on the content of the proposed topics, since this content comes from known or related users; therefore it is possible to allow a fully automatic programming of your device by third parties, without necessarily requiring confirmation of each issue or even of each subject, and without requiring a selection or confirmation by means of a computer. Preferably, the programming instructions received are executed directly from the video recorders of the users subscribed to a subject.

This procedure also allows any user-editor to share selections of video programs with a subset of the other users, without necessarily having to make their programming tastes public for all other users. Advantageously, the user-editor can himself allow or restrict the right of other users to view their topics and / or to modify them. Different video recorder users can subscribe to different topics, depending on their links in the social network application.

Complementary rules can be defined, including priority rules, content censorship, age limits, General indications of the desired or rejected program, rules that prevent the recording of a new broadcast when the recorder capacity reaches its maximum, etc., by each user to limit the risk of unwanted programming through the topics, even by trusted users or in the context of subscribed topics. As an example, a user can block the programming of broadcasts with adult or violent content proposed on authorized topics.

The method of the invention manipulates only commented indications and lists of video content, without affecting the video content itself. The video content can even be transmitted on a different channel from the one used for programming control instructions, and at another time. This allows the method of the invention to be used to program the recording of encrypted broadcasts that will be stored for example in the recorders in an encrypted manner, then they will be decoded only for reading.

Next in the description and the claims, a topic is for example a manually edited list of video content indications, with comments possibly introduced by an administrator or user of the topic, and access rights for users.

Brief description of the figures

Examples of embodiment of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the attached figures in which: Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of the system of the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically the layers of the logical model of the engravers of the invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic screen view of a web page that allows a user to create a new theme.

Figure 4 is a schematic screen view of an example of an electronic programming guide according to the Invention.

Figure 5 is a schematic screen view of an example dialog box that allows you to schedule the recording of a broadcast or other video content.

Embodiment example (s) of the invention

The system illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a central server, for example a web server 1, connected to a

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3 communication network such as Internet. Server 1 comprises a database 10 for storing a list of topics and users who have rights on these topics, as will be seen below. The data bank 10 can be constituted by a relational data bank or a set of XML files, for example. This data may be encrypted or at least stored securely in order to prevent third parties from controlling who records what video content or who subscribes to what topic.

A module 11 allows remote users 4 to access an electronic programming guide, for example in the form of web pages, and / or the content of the database 10, in order to modify the topics or rights associated with them themes. Another module 12 allows to send control instructions of video recorders, as will be seen below. Again, these instructions may be encrypted in order to prevent third parties from intercepting them and determining the tastes of viewers.

The programming of the video contents to be recorded and the topics on the server is carried out in a privileged way through computers 4 connected to the Internet 3 and accessing web pages presented by module 11 in order to introduce or of editing recordings in the database 10. The programming can implement, for example, Java tools, dotnet, etc. Other means of accessing the data bank 10 can be implemented, for example from a mobile phone, a PDA, via SMS, via a voice interface, or directly from the televisions 6, the video recorders 5, 7 or the decoders 9 ("set-top-box") of the users. Emissions can be selected from any of these devices, with or without electronic programming guide.

Televisions can be conventional analogue or digital television receivers, or other devices that can receive video signals broadcast via multicast, including mobile phones, PCs, PDAs, etc.

Users have access to a television program broadcast continuously and by multicasting on their television 6. The television program can be transmitted analogically or digitally by any conventional channel, including PAL, SECAM, NTSC, DVB-T, such as IP signal by one telephone line or another, etc. The dissemination of the programs is not affected by the process of the invention.

At least one of the users has a digital recorder 5 that can establish a bi-directional connection with the server 1 through the Internet network. The recorder 5 can be combined or associated with a digital decoder and thus allows receiving, through any channel, and then memorizing video content, for example television broadcasts. The bi-directional connection also allows instructions to be sent to server 1, for example programming instructions entered directly into the recorder 5 or with the help of the remote control 60. Recorded programs can be viewed on a television or a monitor 6. Television programs can be be received by the same channel 3 used to transmit the programming instructions, or by another channel not shown in the figure. In one embodiment, the digital recorder 5 has at the same time an interface for a digital or analog television signal, and a separate interface of the Ethernet or WLAN type for example to access the Internet.

Other users may have a digital or analog recorder 7 that can receive, but not send, control instructions from the server 1, for example through an Internet network. Again, television programs can be broadcast on channel 3, or another channel, and be viewed on a television 7.

A third category of users has recorders 9 that can only receive a video signal, but not directly connected to the Internet. In this case, the programming instructions of the server 1 can be transmitted over the Internet to a gateway 8, for example in the cable television operator of these users, in order to include them in the video signal, for example as instructions during the line or frame return interval of an analog signal or as a digital order. Programming control instructions transmitted by multicasting with the video signal are associated with an identification of the recipient recorder or decoder so that only this recipient executes them. The transmission of the instructions can be carried out immediately after the selection, or delayed, for example after several hours or several days, but obviously before the broadcast of the broadcast if possible.

Generally the recorders 5, 7, 9 must be modified to receive and execute the programming control instructions received from the server 1. Figure 2 illustrates in a simplified manner the interconnection layers 50 of the logic model of a conventional digital recorder. The lowest layer 500 is the physical layer that defines the material aspects of the recorder. Layer 501 corresponds to the controllers and computer managers that access this physical layer. The 502 layer is a middleware layer, for example an MHP computer layer in the case of a DVB recorder ("Digital Video Broadcasting", digital video multicast). Finally, layer 503 is an application layer with applications installed, for example by the manufacturer of the recorder, by a cable television operator, and / or by the user himself. The decoder of the invention is preferably modified at the level of layer 502 and / or layer 503 in order to recognize programming instructions from server 1 and execute these instructions.

An embodiment of the programming procedure according to the invention will now be described. Such as

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As indicated above, users preferably use a web browser on a personal computer 4 to define new themes, edit existing topics, add or edit indications of video content on a topic, or define access rights to these topics. Access is possible from a mobile phone, directly from the video recorder or from another device.

The user who wishes to make available, or available to other users, a list of indications of video content to be recorded, firstly connects with his browser to a web page presented by server 1, in a predefined URL It is then identified with the help of a password or any other appropriate identification method. This identification allows access to a personalized page that takes into account your profile and your previous choices.

In order to schedule the recording of a video content, the user must first create a theme, that is to say a table or a structure in the database 10 that groups indications of video content, for example broadcasts, on similar issues or that may interest the same user community. Figure 3 shows an example of a dialog box 41 on a web page 40 that allows you to create a new theme. The web page comprises an icon 42 that allows the Internet user to return directly to the home page, and an icon 43 that allows direct access to an electronic guide to conventional programming.

When the user-editor decides to create a new topic, the dialog box 41 opens and invites the user to indicate a title of the topic (for example “diving”), a language that will be the language of the comments and of the major part of the programmed video content, a category (for example "documentary", "movies", "child", etc.) and a comment or other metadata that allow other users to find this topic more easily, and understand if the contents Recorded video may interest you. The name or alias of the user-editor, as well as the date of the programming, can also be automatically added by the system.

The user can also define access rights to this topic, for example a combination of one or more of the following rights:

• Private theme: only the user-editor who created the theme can see it in the list of topics, and add or

delete indications of video content, comment on the subject or video content, see the list of

Scheduled video content or use this list to program your recorder.

• Public topic: all users can view the topic in a list of topics and choose to subscribe to it to automatically schedule the recording of the video content indicated in the topic.

• Semi-public theme: the user-editor who creates the topic limits his access to a closed group of users, by

example to a group of friends or your family. Therefore, access to the theme is possible by invitation or selection by the user-editor of the theme or another user authorized to administer the theme. Users so invited to a topic should preferably confirm this subscription, unless they have defined in their preferences that they give up this confirmation and accept that they are automatically included in all the topics to which they are invited, or in all topics to those who invite trusted users, for example friends in a social network system.

A user search engine can be included in the system in order to easily find other users identified by name or by an alias. Users also preferably have the possibility of remaining anonymous in the system, and not having their name or alias appear in the user lists; They can also choose to restrict the information made available to other users.

In the case of a public or semi-public issue, the user-editor who created the topic can grant more or less broad rights to all other users, or to certain specified users, for example by granting or prohibiting the following rights:

• Right to see the topic, or the content of the topic. A user can choose, for example, to offer a topic visible only by his friends, by his family, by himself, by his clients, etc.

• Right to add indications of video content to a topic.

• Right to remove an indication of video content from a topic.

• Right to comment on the subject.

• Right to comment or give a note to a selected video content in a topic.

• Right to invite other users to the topic.

• Right to modify the rights of other users.

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• Right to see the name or alias of the theme editor.

• Etc.

The theme is then created and stored with its attributes in the database 10 when the user selects the 45 key. A web page not represented preferably allows a user to consult the list of topics to which he has access or for which is an editor, the list of video contents programmed in each theme, and modify or edit the themes and / or the list of users of the theme for which you have the appropriate access rights. Another page not represented allows you to search by keywords, by category, by Language, etc., among the public topics to which a user can subscribe, and subscribe to the topics that interest you in order to automatically record the video contents Indicated in the subject.

Figure 4 illustrates an example of an electronic programming guide set forth by server 1 when the user clicks on cone 43. The guide indicates the list of video contents, for example television broadcasts, E1, E2 , ... up to E6 broadcast on different C1, C2 chains to which the user has access. Information about each video content is displayed, including for example the start time, duration, category (film, documentary, etc.), a summary, a photograph, etc. The electronic program guide displays, for example, three weeks of broadcasts in advance. The list of the proposed chains can be limited manually or automatically to the chains to which the user really has access, particularly if the user or his cable television operator has indicated this list in the user's profile. A button 44 near the area reserved for each broadcast allows you to schedule your recording on all the recorders of the users subscribed to the affected subject.

Figure 5 illustrates an example of a web page displayed when the user selects one of the buttons 44 to record one of the broadcasts of the electronic programming guide, in this example the video content or the E2 broadcast. A dialog box 45 or a new page is opened in order to allow the user to enter a comment about the selected video content and choose from the list of topics to which the user has access to that or those with which you must associate an Indication of the selected content. Next, the programming of the home recording of all the subscribers of the subject is started by selecting the 450 key.

The server 1 comprises a module 12 for remotely sending recorder programming instructions to all users subscribed to topics that include video contents broadcast shortly. In an execution mode, instructions are only sent to users who really have the possibility of receiving the affected television networks. If the server does not know the list of chains accessible to each user, it is also possible to send instructions to all users subscribed to the affected topics, and ignore instructions that cannot be executed at the recorder level.

In the same way, the eventual conflicts between several video contents whose broadcast periods overlap can be resolved at the server 1 level, for example based on predefined criteria or customized by the users. For example, it is conceivable that each user defines priorities based on the topics subscribed, the categories of video content and / or the notes attributed by Internet users to the different video contents. More complex criteria can be defined to limit the number of recorded emissions; a user can decide for example a maximum number of video content or minutes of content that must be recorded every day, globally and / or by category or by topic. These criteria can be verified either at server 1 level, or at recorder level 5, 7, 9, or eventually at gateway level 8.

The user can also define rules for managing the memory available in his recorder, and for example define that he wishes to keep a maximum of 120 hours of video content, or 200 Gigabytes, or a maximum of 10 movies, 3 hours of documentaries and the last three football matches recorded. These management rules can be entered through the website exposed by the server 1, or directly into the video recorder 5, 7, 9. They are then verified either by the server 1, or by the video recorder, and when one of them is satisfied, a write deletion order is sent by the server 1 and executed by the video recorder, or executed directly by the video recorder, so that the contents are automatically deleted of video corresponding to the selected removal criteria. Prior to deletion, a confirmation request can be displayed on the TV and requested from the user. In a variant, the oldest video content, and / or those that are consulted with the least frequency or that have the worst score of the users of the subject, and / or those that the user has already seen, and / or those that They are not explicitly protected against deletion, they are deleted as soon as the available recording memory needs.

The programming or deletion instructions sent by the server 1 are transmitted digitally through the network 3 to the recorders 5, 7 and / or the gateway 8. The instructions transmitted to the recorders 5, 7 can be sent in mode "Push" (with prior request), that is to say on the initiative of server 1, or preferably in "pulí" mode (without prior request) when the recorder 5, 7 checks for itself if commands directed to itself are available on the server 1. This verification can be carried out, for example, every time the recorder starts, leaving the sleep mode and / or periodic intervals.

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The method and system of the invention advantageously comprise an automatic recommendation system in order to propose to the subscribed users complementary video themes or contents. The automatic recommendation system may involve, for example, a system of correlation between user choices to propose recommendations for example when they connect to the server 1 website, or when they sign up for a new topic or schedule new video content on An existing topic. Recommendations can be for example of the type:

• The viewers subscribed to this topic X also frequently subscribe to the topic Y.

• The viewers who have programmed this broadcast have also sometimes programmed this other video content.

• Issue X seems to deal with the same issue as Issue Y.

• The three most frequently scheduled video content for next week are a, b and c.

• Etc.

Recommendations can also be based on calculations of distance between video content, for example using semantic algorithms and category analysis to analyze the content of video content descriptions and associated comments or metadata, and to propose related video content . If the analysis is carried out at least in part at the digital recorder level, or if the server has a means to know what recorded video contents are actually seen, the recommendations may also depend on the reading of the broadcasts, for example with in order to take into account differently content viewed several times or those that have not finished seeing.

The server 1 and / or the gateway 8 can also automatically recommend new ways of subscribing to television networks, for example when the user subscribes to topics that propose video content broadcast by chains that he cannot receive or decode. For example, it is conceivable that the user receives a message or other advertising content that proposes to subscribe to a group of television networks on the theme "sea and nature" when frequently scuba diving programs or if you subscribe to topics on this subject .

In the same way, it is also possible to propose to the user video content on demand (“video on demand”) that corresponds to their tastes, when the broadcast system allows it. A user who regularly schedules diving documentaries, or who comments on this matter, may be asked to download paid movies on this subject on their television or recorder, or links to video, photography or other content available on the Internet, for example on a site such as
www.youtube.com

Recommendations for video content, topics, subscription to new groups of networks or broadcast on demand can be viewed on the website presented by server 1 when the user connects to this server. It is also possible to send such recommendations by email or by postal mail if you have indicated your email or postal address on your profile and have given your consent for this type of advertising. Finally, it is also possible to display recommendations directly on the screen of televisions 6, for example in the form of an advertisement or of an advertising content (text, image, video, hypertext link, etc.) taped on the recorders 7 and broadcast for example at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of an issue. Advertising content can also be superimposed on recorded video content, or displayed on a split screen, etc.

In order to encourage communication between users about video content, the web server can also propose to theme managers, or other users, to create blogs hosted on server 1, or another site, and related to the topics created and broadcasts on these issues. This reinforces the spirit of community around a topic. Blogs can be public or limited with access rights, for example by making them accessible only to users subscribed to the topics affected by these blogs.

The server of the invention can be financed, for example, by cable television operators who are interested in having users frequently propose new video content on chains to which they will be tempted to subscribe. In a variant, the subscription to at least some topics can be paid, transferring the amount paid to the user who created the topic, to the server 1 operator, to the cable television operator and / or to the channels that broadcast the contents of selected video in the theme. You can also conceive sponsored topics; A paper magazine for diving could, for example, give its readers access to an accessible topic with a code indicated in the magazine. An advertisement associated with the theme sponsor can be viewed by the website in association with each proposed theme.

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It is also possible to finance this service, at least in part, by advertising displayed on the website of the server 1 and / or advertising films automatically added by the server 1, the gateway 8 or the video recorder at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of the recorded video contents. Advertising can also be displayed dynamically by the recorder, for example while reading a video content, but without being stored with this content. The choice of the advertising displayed depends preferably on the profile of the user as defined on server 1, in particular on their language and / or the subscribed topics.

Reference numbers used in the figures

I Server

10 Database

II Module that allows remote users to access an electronic programming guide and / or the content of the database 10

12 Module that allows you to send programming control instructions for video recorders

3 Telecommunication network, for example Internet

4 Digital user treatment system, for example computer

40 Website

41 Topic Creation Dialog Box

42 Return to home page icon

43 Access icon to the electronic programming guide

44 Emission selection button or icon to be recorded

45 Dialog box for programming a broadcast

5 Personal video recorder with bi-directional interface 50 Stack of the logical model of the recorders

500 physical layer

501 Drivers Layer

502 Middleware Layer

503 Application Layer

6 TV or monitor 60 Remote control

7 Personal video recorder with monodirectional interface

8 Catwalk

9 Personal video recorder without direct Internet access

Claims (17)

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Procedure for programming video recorders (5, 7, 9) comprising the following steps: select, by a video recorder user-editor, a video content to be recorded; include an identification of said video content in a topic that groups different contents; choose the users subscribed to that topic; automatically transmit programming instructions for the recording of said video content to the video recorders (5, 7, 9) of the users subscribed to said subject, thus programming the video recorders of said subscribed users without any intervention on their part; delete video contents recorded by said video recorder (5, 7, 9); characterized in that said stage of eliminating recorded video contents comprises the steps of: Define, by a user, rules for choosing the video content that should be automatically deleted from your recorder, so that the video content consulted less frequently and / or that have the worst score of the videos is allowed users subscribed to that topic; verify said rules by a video recorder programming server (1); Y send recording delete orders to the video recorder of said user when one of said rules is satisfied. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the video contents corresponding to a deletion criteria are automatically deleted, so that the elimination of the oldest and / or the video content that has already been viewed is also allowed. by the user 3. The method according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein at least one editor-user is at the same time an editor that selects the video content of topics proposed to other users, and a user whose video recorder is programmed with the emissions included in some topics managed by other publishers-users. 4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the same video recorder is used to select the video content included in a subject and to record the video content of other subjects. 5. A method according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a step along which said editor-user creating a topic defines a closed list of users who have the right to subscribe to it. 6. A method according to one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a stage along which a user subscribes to a public topic or to a topic to which he has the right to subscribe. 7. A method according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a step along which said editor-user who creates a topic defines the rights of other users of the topic, each user being able to grant or reject at least one of The following rights: right to subscribe to the topic; right to add add video content indications to the topic; right to remove some indications of video content from the subject; right to comment on video content; right to comment on the subject A method according to one of claims 1 to 7, which comprises a step of adding a comment or a note to a video content selected in a subject. 9. A method according to one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a step of searching for topics with the help of a search tool on a server (1). Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which a program executed by a server (1) or in said digital recorder (5, 7, 9) manages conflicts when simultaneous programming of several video contents takes place. . 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the user defines priorities associated with the issues to resolve said conflicts. 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 A method according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a server (1) sends programming control instructions to said video recorders (5, 7, 9) in an encrypted form. 13. A method according to one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a step along which a user defines on a server (1) the television networks (C1, C2) to which he has access. 14. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein said programming instructions are transmitted over the Internet to digital recorders (5, 7) directly connected to an Internet type network (3). 15. A method according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein said programming instructions are transmitted to at least one gateway (8) in a cable television operator that includes them in the video signal transmitted to users. 16. A method according to one of claims 1 to 15, comprising a step of adding an advertising content associated with at least certain recorded video contents. 17. Server (1) for programming video recorders comprising: an electronic program guide; a database (10) for storing a list of topics that groups indications of video content and user rights associated with these indications of video content; an interface (11) that allows users to remotely modify topic lists and rights associates; a module (12) for automatically transmitting video recorder programming instructions in order to start the automatic recording of the video contents in each subject for the users who benefit from the corresponding rights, without the intervention of said users; a web server that allows recording deletion orders to be sent to video recorders; characterized because said web server allowing users to define rules for managing the memory available in their recorders and allowing these video recorders to send recording deletion orders when one of these rules is satisfied so that the content is allowed to be deleted of video consulted less frequently and / or that have the worst score of the users of the subject.